With all the groups coming back to Hokkaido, it will be curious how the 3 factions move forward. As Ogata comes back to Hijikata he brings up the point regarding Sofia. She will be coming for Asirpa, but what is her angle? Also, it will be curious how Ariko being with Hijikata’s group will affect things here. As we know, Ogata is perceptive, and Ariko is in a fucked situation playing a double agent for Tsurumi.
Although the mention of Botaro the Pirate, who is one of the tattoo prisoners, is a target for all 3 groups. Tsurumi sending Usami & Kikuta there to deal with Hijikata’s group is rather interesting. Meanwhile, for Sugimoto’s group, they are aiming to find some of the gold that Noppera-Bo lost while he was traveling in Lake Shikotsu. It looks like all 3 factions will be going after the same man, so I’m curious who comes out on top.
Once again we learn more about another of Tsurumi’s subordinates, and this time it is Usami. In terms of character, Usami has the least amount of it. Essentially he admired Tsurumi at the dojo he lived near, and Tsurumi was curious about Usami’s strength. That admiration is what Tsurumi manipulated when Usami killed his “friend”. Tsurumi mentions in the flashback that a commanding officer is meant to instill love in his men so they do the tasks he gives them.Hajime’s love is seeing what Tsurumi will do. Koito’s love is for the man who saved him and guided him when he was going nowhere. Usami’s love is just to serve Tsurumi purely. Meanwhile, Ogata and Tanigaki lacked that love. Ogata just used Tsurumi as he used him. Tanigaki had too high of a character for Tsurumi to manipulate.
As we learn that Inkarmat is pregnant with Tanigaki’s child, it creates more leverage for Tsurumi. As he tells Tanigaki to go after Sugimoto and get Asirpa for him. Of course it is clear that Tanigaki could never do that. That is where the love fails for Tsurumi. Though this leads to Tanigaki rescuing Inkarmat and eventually ending up back in Asirpa’s village. Where eventually Huci helps deliver their child.
Though it is more interesting how Hajime keeps getting in their way and Koito is the one to reason with him. While Koito is still learning the world and growing up. His words speak true when he says, What will killing them do? Tanigaki now being a father, has more reason to not reunite with Sugimoto’s group. So they won’t get in their way. Koito is the one to reason with him when he mentions it is fine to do good if Tsurumi achieves his goals. Of course Hajime is still tied to the past because when Tsurumi admitted his lies, Hajime had nothing. As Koito pushes, it will be curious what becomes of Hajime.
We even got a small section where Sugimoto was isolated with only 1 arm working, where he was stranded for a week. It was a good showcase of how much Asirpa has taught him and how close they have become as partners.